John of Salisbury was born at Old Sarum which was the former site of Salisbury, in England between 1115 and 1120 and was among the highest rewarded philosophers of the so-called twelfth century Renaissance. He spent a great deal contributing to the development of political and moral philosophy as well as to the medieval theory of education and to the publishing of rising Aristotelian learning. He is commonly known for one of his famous autobiographical passage in the Metalogicon. This is where he narrated his twelve years of education. This was a very important source for understanding French higher instruction in this period. The list of his teachers includes many of the great thinkers of the mid-twelfth century. For example, Peter Abelard, Robert of Melun, William of Conches, Thierry of Chartres, Adam de Petit Pont, Gilbert of Poitiers, and Robert Pullan. John’s studies encompassed analytical philosophy, rhetoric, linguistic theory, literature, and theology (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The general theme of his philosophy is reflected in his assistance of moderation and his significance on nature as a normative guide to earthly attainment. The most fundamental of John’s philosophical commitments arose expressly from Cicero. Beyond John’s self-conscious and successful effort to imitate Cicero’s polished style of Latin expression, he embraced the Ciceronian dedication to the program of the New Academy. The New Academy advocated an anti-dogmatic probabilistic theory of knowledge according to which claims to certainty remain open to challenge, so long as they have not been demonstrated beyond doubt (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Another book that he wrote was called Policraticus, which was written in 1159. The message he wanted to show his contemporaries was that, in their thought and actions they were defecting from the true task of humanity. He believed in the vision of high moral ideals and social values of Christianity. His work illustrated a protest against the professional specialization gradually advancing in royal and papal administration and in the universities. He critically contradicted the way of life followed by courtiers and administrators with an excellent practice taken from Latin poets and from classical and patristic writers (John Of Salisbury). Lastly, In 1176 he was elected bishop of Chartres, an office he held before his death on October 25, 1180. Bighearted, genuine, and acceptable, he appears in all his works as a exemplary Christian humanist. John of Salisbury is famously known for his work, Metalogicon which was written in 1159. This was written in return to a movement searching to decrease the significance placed on the trivium in education. Trivium focused on elementary students and teaching them the emphasis on language arts. This book was written to express the importance and purpose of education. John of Salisbury believed that the main focus of education was to create a virtuous person and he displayed that through the Metalogicon. John of Salisbury believed that a huge part of education was asking questions. He wrote, “Seeking is a necessary preliminary to finding, and one who cannot endure the hardship of inquiry cannot expect to harvest the fruit of knowledge” (The Metalogicon). People will never know information that they do not understand if they do not ask. He believed if those who asked questions and engaged themselves in conversation then they will acquire the highest amount of intelligence. Also, in education there were extremely bright educators that have a background in wonderful knowledge, so students should be taking advantage of all the resources they are offered. For example, “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours” (The Metalogicon). In this quote he referred to the educators that were brilliant and were willing to pass it on. These educators had a lot more experience and knowledge than a younger generation had, so they were now offering to teach them and work with them just as someone did with them. Not only was intelligence something John of Salisbury took pride in, but the capability of language arts was also important. According to him, “Just as eloquence, enlightened by reason, is rash and blind, so wisdom, without the power of expression, is feeble and maimed” (The Metalogicon). Not only was there an emphasis on the meaning of language arts but the fluency behind it was very critical. He believed in order for a person to be successful they must have a pattern in fluent speaking. Also, grammar was also important for success. For example, "Grammar is accordingly first among the liberal arts. Necessary for the young, gratifying to the old, and an agreeable solace in solitude, it alone, of all branches of learning, has more utility than show” (The Metalogicon). He said without proper grammar one cannot learn the correct way so it must be installed at a young age for the child to develop into the best they were capable of. John of Salisbury captured delight when citizens were raised to be virtuous through education. It was significant to have mindful educators to educate students to grow into honest and noble civilians. He took his knowledge and placed it into the Metalogicon for the world to know his values and beliefs. His work is now one of the best twelfth-century sources historians have regarding education during this time in history.
Works Cited John of Salisbury. The Metalogicon. Gloucester, Mass: Peter Smith, 1159. Print. Prepared by Molly Secord
The general theme of his philosophy is reflected in his assistance of moderation and his significance on nature as a normative guide to earthly attainment. The most fundamental of John’s philosophical commitments arose expressly from Cicero. Beyond John’s self-conscious and successful effort to imitate Cicero’s polished style of Latin expression, he embraced the Ciceronian dedication to the program of the New Academy. The New Academy advocated an anti-dogmatic probabilistic theory of knowledge according to which claims to certainty remain open to challenge, so long as they have not been demonstrated beyond doubt (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). Another book that he wrote was called Policraticus, which was written in 1159. The message he wanted to show his contemporaries was that, in their thought and actions they were defecting from the true task of humanity. He believed in the vision of high moral ideals and social values of Christianity. His work illustrated a protest against the professional specialization gradually advancing in royal and papal administration and in the universities. He critically contradicted the way of life followed by courtiers and administrators with an excellent practice taken from Latin poets and from classical and patristic writers (John Of Salisbury). Lastly, In 1176 he was elected bishop of Chartres, an office he held before his death on October 25, 1180. Bighearted, genuine, and acceptable, he appears in all his works as a exemplary Christian humanist.
John of Salisbury is famously known for his work, Metalogicon which was written in 1159. This was written in return to a movement searching to decrease the significance placed on the trivium in education. Trivium focused on elementary students and teaching them the emphasis on language arts. This book was written to express the importance and purpose of education. John of Salisbury believed that the main focus of education was to create a virtuous person and he displayed that through the Metalogicon.
John of Salisbury believed that a huge part of education was asking questions. He wrote, “Seeking is a necessary preliminary to finding, and one who cannot endure the hardship of inquiry cannot expect to harvest the fruit of knowledge” (The Metalogicon). People will never know information that they do not understand if they do not ask. He believed if those who asked questions and engaged themselves in conversation then they will acquire the highest amount of intelligence.
Also, in education there were extremely bright educators that have a background in wonderful knowledge, so students should be taking advantage of all the resources they are offered. For example, “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours” (The Metalogicon). In this quote he referred to the educators that were brilliant and were willing to pass it on. These educators had a lot more experience and knowledge than a younger generation had, so they were now offering to teach them and work with them just as someone did with them.
Not only was intelligence something John of Salisbury took pride in, but the capability of language arts was also important. According to him, “Just as eloquence, enlightened by reason, is rash and blind, so wisdom, without the power of expression, is feeble and maimed” (The Metalogicon). Not only was there an emphasis on the meaning of language arts but the fluency behind it was very critical. He believed in order for a person to be successful they must have a pattern in fluent speaking. Also, grammar was also important for success. For example, "Grammar is accordingly first among the liberal arts. Necessary for the young, gratifying to the old, and an agreeable solace in solitude, it alone, of all branches of learning, has more utility than show” (The Metalogicon). He said without proper grammar one cannot learn the correct way so it must be installed at a young age for the child to develop into the best they were capable of.
John of Salisbury captured delight when citizens were raised to be virtuous through education. It was significant to have mindful educators to educate students to grow into honest and noble civilians. He took his knowledge and placed it into the Metalogicon for the world to know his values and beliefs. His work is now one of the best twelfth-century sources historians have regarding education during this time in history.
Works Cited
John of Salisbury. The Metalogicon. Gloucester, Mass: Peter Smith, 1159. Print.
Prepared by Molly Secord